Visualizing the Careers of 2016 NFL Draft Running Backs

When it comes to running back prospects, opportunity isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.
That said, toward the goal of figuring out which running backs might be most successful with their opportunities, two of the factors that I’ve found to matter most are age and rushing production. Continuing with the groundwork laid in the visualizing the careers of 2016 NFL Draft receivers article, I’ve created this article to show you how 2016’s top running back prospects progressed through their careers.
In the images that follow, you’ll see a trend line and the career plot for four players. The trend line was created by plotting the college careers of running backs drafted since 2000 who rank in the top 25 of career approximate value (via PFR). The trend line represents what those guys were doing in college in terms of age and rushing yards per game, both of which have tested as significant variables in my RB projection models.
The order in which they appear is based on the post-NFL combine RotoViz Scouting Index. I also included a couple of hybrid prospects like Braxton Miller and Bryon Marshall, who technically were invited to the combine as receivers.
All ages are pulled from the 2016 NFL Draft Age Database.

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